Panama Volunteer Program: Childrens Program

Children's Program

The Children's Program works with amazing groups of children that will inspire you with the strength they have gained from overcoming and managing their own personal struggles in life. Our goal is to serve them by offering them love, attention, knowledge and education to empower them to have successful futures, free from poverty and filled with opportunities.
Volunteer opportunities may include: working in orphanages assisting with daily activities and childcare duties, helping with homework, running Saturday morning soccer & music classes. It is important to help in the way they need it. This could mean you will be helping with mentoring and playing with the kids, teaching in a classroom, working in the laundry, cooking meals, or feeding and bathing the children. You should also try and bring new ideas to your project. Often the most popular ideas with the children are arts 'n' craft activities, sports games, dance, singing & music. Don't forget to consult your supervisor at your placement before introducing any new ideas. Please note that resources may be limited in the programs due to strict budgets & lack of funding, but UMMP does our best to supply you with the materials you need to run a variety of projects.

Each program will vary in terms of number of children, cleanliness, facilities provided, food, management capability, funding assistance, health issues, education provision, etc. Some projects may be more established and have specific duties to be completed on a regular basis. Other projects will not provide as much one-on-one support and require self-motivated individuals. As some of these projects are not full-time, volunteers are able to join 2 to 3 projects to build a full-time schedule.

Accommodation

Volunteers are accommodated in either a volunteer house or a home stay.

For volunteers staying in the volunteer house, it is conveniently located in the center of town on the main street; the home has a wonderful atmosphere that will peacefully make you feel just at home. The home has hot water and you will be able to share an equipped kitchen, a comfortable living room lounge to chill out and free internet access is available. Volunteers need to bring their own towels and laundry services are available within a block of the home.

Volunteers should expect to share a room with a room mate of the same gender, the house can accommodate up to 13 people at one time.

For volunteers living in home stays conditions may be more rustic than for those in the volunteer house and an extra charge will apply. However, Living with a Panamanian family during your volunteer time is an incredible cultural experience. A homestay offers you an amazing opportunity to practice Spanish in a natural, relaxed and authentic atmosphere as well as being in a unique and privileged position to get immersed in the Latin American culture, cuisine, customs and daily way of life.

Meals and Food

Your program fee provides for your breakfast from the start date of your placement. Breakfast foods may include: cereal, bread with jam/peanut butter, fruit, yogurt, granola, pancakes, eggs, juice, tea and coffee.

Please note that meals will differ from accommodation to accommodation.

For all other meals - lunch, dinner and snacks - volunteers are responsible for purchasing at your own cost and preparing food for yourself.

Free Time

For most, free time will be on weekends, public holidays and after volunteer duties are done for the day. Note, volunteers will be expected to work at minimum of 6 hours per day, 5 days per week.

Transportation

Your program fee does not cover your transport from your accommodation to your volunteer project each day. In most cases, volunteers will be required to catch public transport to their projects. Many of the projects are in walking distance from the volunteer house, but for those further away, you will be able catch a bus or taxi to your project each day. The cost for the bus will be around US $.50 - $2 each day or for a private taxi or a shared taxi the cost will be around US $.50 - $3 per day.

Communication

If you'd like to bring a cell phone, make sure it is unlocked by your carrier before departure. You can purchase a local SIM chip in Panama or purchase a local mobile phone to keep in contact with family and friends at home, other volunteers and program staff. Most volunteer accommodations have landline telephones for incoming calls.

There are an abundance of Internet cafes in Boquete and you can expect to pay around US$1 for an hour of Internet use. The internet is fast and is a cheap option for keeping in touch with family and friends at home.

Number of Volunteers

The Panama program usually has between 5 and 17 volunteers per month, but the number of volunteers varies depending on the season.  Generally you are placed with one to three other volunteers at your project.

Costs

Application Fee – US $97

Your application fee is fully transferable and will secure your place on the program, (or any other GVN program of your choice), at a placement date that is suitable to you.*

*Your application fee provides you with access to any of GVN's volunteer programs over the next 5 years, as many times as you like without having to pay another application fee!

Children under 18 are not required to pay the application fee when volunteering together with a parent/guardian.  (Except for participants in our Youth Tour program who are required to pay a US$97 application fee.)

To return to the main Panama program, click here.